Biblical Homemaking

what i wore this week {why I do wiww edition}

2012-02-01T02:00:00.001-06:00

what i wore this week is a segment of the blog that I like for lots of little reasons...you might be wondering, is fashion really important in the grand scheme of things? In any scheme of things? Nah. I don’t really think so.

But for some reason, I enjoy putting outfits together, and the what I wore this week series keeps me motivated to get dressed every day for my family {which is something that feels extremely important after you had to answer the door at noon and you were still bra-less in your old yoga pants and ratty night shirt! eek!}. I also like to do it because I think it’s fun to share what kinds of deals you can find at the thrift store!

Like this: I found this necklace, earrings, floral top, and jeans at Goodwill for $13 total. The sweater was from Target {$17} and the shoes were my fave neutral shoes ever {$20}!

The two individual items were more expensive than all the others combined! I so love the thrift store!

So when it comes to clothing and the role it has in our life as believers, here’s what I think: we women have the job of helping to provide coverings for our family, and I believe God does put in us design and creativity and an appreciation for colors and beauty and orderly things.

I’m often reminded of this verse in Proverbs 31 when I think about the whole getting dressed thing:

She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet. v. 21

It’s not something we should worry or be anxious about- what we wear has no value in itself, and all things will be provided by the Lord in His time- but I think we are to be the nurturers of the family, making sure that those in our care are dressed and protected from the elements, while being wise stewards with the money God has given us at the same time.

And I can’t seem to discount the scarlet part either- she dresses her family in fine, quality garments. That is so interesting to me. It’s not wrong for me to spend money to wear Ralph Lauren clothes, or to buy a nice pair of leather shoes. If I buy nice things that will last my family many years, I’m being a good steward with the money I have been given. And they were good enough to protect them from the weather- so they weren’t full of holes or old and thin.

{a gap clearance sweater from last year, $8, and a $4 self-tailored skirt from Ann Taylor Loft, paired with an old pair of Steve Madden shoes and a $1 vintage belt!}

I guess the question is, if I’m buying loads of scarlet clothes just because they give the appearance of wealth, what is the good in that? Or if I’m throwing away money on clothes I’ll only wear a few times {high-end or low-end}, what purpose does that serve?

Does that make sense?

It’s not that I’ve got it. I don’t think it’s wrong to buy new clothes at all. But have you ever felt guilty for buying something you didn’t really need? I have. Even when it’s only $3 from Goodwill. I like shopping and finding new deals, but lately I’ve been trying harder to make more with what I’ve already got {which is plenty!}. I’ve been trying to remix a lot of my clothes these days! :)

I think it’s fun to buy unique pieces to work with your neutral investment pieces. You can remix them, over and over again- making the best of the money you’ve been given.

I’m a huge fan of a Gap cardigan sweater and a good pair of American Eagle jeans: {probably the foundation of 65% of my outfits ;) }

Paired with a $3 Goodwill floral top and a $8 pair of GW patent leather heels, the neutrals work their magic, I think.

And I think it’s a good thing to find clothes that can be resold when they aren’t used any more. Finding nicer clothing will give you a greater chance of resale- which means you could get dressed for a fraction of the price!

I love to buy things on eBay or at the thrift store and resell them for what I paid or more. Like this Fossil bag:

Whether you resell or buy on sale, or buy thrifted clothes- it doesn’t matter. It’s not about the clothes. Life is more than clothing, and a woman’s life doesn’t consist in the abundance of her possessions. But that’s good news, isn’t it?? :D

The only thing that really matters in this life on earth is what you believe- and what you do with it.

For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-17

What do you believe in? What do you hope to accomplish in your days here in this place?

linking up for What I Wore Wednesday @ the Pleated Poppy!

homeschooling: the struggle & finding what works for us

2012-01-31T12:22:00.001-06:00

how we keep up with books/assignments/pencils x 4 : $4 Target workboxes

Homeschooling four littles is an enormous challenge {and struggle!} for us. I’m not naturally inclined to teach little kids- I don’t have that kind of awesome gene. :)

I really enjoy being around my children, but when it comes to sitting down to do school, within an hour my heart starts racing, I can’t breathe, and my stress level goes through the roof. I kid, but I’m kind of serious too. Teaching phonics to little boys has done that to me.

Sometimes I think I want to live in a foreign country and serve Jesus under trial- and then He totally slams me with the fact that homeschooling is my trial right now. Biting my tongue, praying for sanctification, crying out to God for help- those are the things homeschooling makes me do. And I see that I’m weak. Terribly weak under trial.

When I was in school, I always did my work very easily and ended up helping other people with theirs, so I really struggle with them lingering over their work- not understanding, not getting it. I’m hoping once we get past the phonics/reading stage, things will get easier and I will enjoy it a little more.

But when my creative 6-year-old wrote his name the other day in perfect mirror image and never could see what was wrong with it, it dawned on me again that my situation might actually be different than what I feel should happen with the average homeschooler. He is left-handed, doesn’t remember simple directions, consistently writes his numbers out of order, and makes amazing play-doh creations like this:

He can draw, he is a people person and a great helper, he can understand the deepest of conversations, and plays the best game of “guess what I’m thinking of.” He is so smart, and we are slowly seeing progress with his schoolwork. I think it will click for him one day soon, because we faced the very same struggle with his older brother when he was 6.

I’ve kind of taken the approach these days that their little boy brains aren’t ready much before the age of 7. It was very close to 7 that it “clicked” for older one, and he is a dream at homeschooling now- he whizzes through his schoolwork and the hardest part of school for us is his attitude now.

Both boys impress me so much with their creativity and interest in how things are made- they even like helping their daddy work on microchips! I think they will be amazing builders and inventors just like their dad. They think outside the box.

So I’m waiting- hoping for that moment, and trying to figure out how to let him enjoy school that he doesn’t always do well at. In the meantime, we are finding things that he can do well, and enjoy.

The boys that built these all by themselves:

Like projects like these along with their “book” work:

And as much as I don’t like media {video, computer games, tv}, it works for them. It worked for their dad too! They learn differently than I expect them to, and I’m learning that’s okay.

We’ve fallen in love with TeachMe for the iPad. Noah loves it- and he writes so much better with his finger than with his pencil.

And of course, they all love coloring and cutting projects:

Those are the things that make school fun for my boys. And as much as I struggle with homeschooling and the trial it brings me, I can see the beauty of it. I get to live with my children- I get to know who they are outside of the school setting- and it helps me to know how to teach them the things they need to know when we sit down to do school. I get to tailor their education to their strengths instead of having to plow through it with all of us in tears, just for the sake of getting done.

And so deep down inside, I really love homeschooling. Honestly, we are blessed beyond measure to be able to do it. It may not always be what we do, or what is best for us {or anyone else, for that matter}, but I know that we are here for a reason, and I am thankful for it.

Even knowing that, it still makes my heart race.

The upside: I get to do cardio without moving. :)

_________________________________

Do you homeschool? It’s so much harder than I ever thought it would be! Has it been a trial for you too? Or better than you expected?

goals update Jan. 30 2012- video style

2012-01-30T11:45:00.001-06:00

I love setting goals- you guys keep me motivated to get them done!

Here are last week’s goals, and this week I decided to try the video format to share my update on last week and some of my new goals for this one. I had to laugh when I watched it because I’m such a goof, but it was fun! :) Oh, and now I know why TV people wear so much makeup! {I have to ask for my foundation in the “Casper” shade already, and the video didn’t help! :) }

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:5-6

getting motivated to work out :: group fitness classes

2012-01-27T12:24:00.001-06:00

Fridays are so much fun because I get to talk about two of my very favorite things: food and fitness!

And you know they go hand in hand, right? ;)

You see, this:

lets me enjoy this just a little more:

{it was my sister-in-law’s birthday and we ate this until we were stuffed! :) so, so good!}

Group fitness is one of my passions. It’s probably silly, but I get so much enjoyment out of doing it! Teaching fitness classes is fun, it's a great workout, and it helps other people to stay healthy too! And as an extra bonus, I get paid to do it! :)

It’s pretty much a dream job for me!

If you’re new to the idea of group fitness here’s what it looks like {that’s me at the front!}:

Basically you come to a studio at the gym and I ~~get to kill you~~ teach you how to work out with other people in the room. I teach Les Mills BODYPUMP, a group weight lifting class set to music. It’s fun and challenging all at the same time! It’s hard to explain, so here’s what it looks like {this is not me!}:

It’s incredibly fun, and by far the most motivating exercise I’ve ever done!

So last weekend I got to launch the newest choreography with this awesome team!

The theme was the 80’s, so we cut up gray t-shirts and had a little fun with it!

and of course I stole these pics from my bestie Abbie! We always snag a pic together at launch:

And we teach BODYCOMBAT together too:

Here’s what BODYCOMBAT looks like in real life {I was in the front right there- you can’t see me but the whole thing was amazing!}:

I love it. Seriously. It’s amazing.

If you are looking for motivation to work out consistently, I want to encourage you to give group fitness a try! It’s accountability, fun, work, and motivation, all wrapped up in one crazy package! Most gyms will let you sample a class and give you a trial for free, so do a search in your area and find one you want to try it out. {and if you want to try to find Les Mills classes like the ones I teach, you can do a zip code search here.}

I’ve got a bite of cake left for after lunch {the rest of it went straight to the freezer this morning!}, and BODYPUMP and BODYCOMBAT waiting for me tonight, and you know what, I’m going to enjoy them both! Whoop! :D

the $10 business: the first investment {#1}

2012-01-26T00:44:00.001-06:00

The $10 business is a financial experiment I’m doing based on Matthew 25. My goal is to see how much $10 can become in 2 years! You can read more about it along with the “rules” here.

My very first investment in the $10 business was this sweet little vintage vanity I bought at Goodwill for $5.40:

We brought it home, put the handles back on it, listed it online as it was, and sold it for $30!

$10 initial investment – $5.40 vanity + $30.00 sale = $34.60 net {I will summarize all applicable sales/income taxes at the end of the year as a single total- so these numbers will always be pre-tax for the sake of simplicity.}

So my initial $10 more than tripled with my very first transaction! :D I was thrilled with the return! It might only be $24 in profit, but I’ll take it. :)

So far, so good! I can’t wait to see what will happen in the next few weeks!

next week: the second investment of the $10 business!

{what i wore this week} restyling it edition

2012-01-25T01:43:00.001-06:00

I went on a date last weekend! Exciting, right? ;)

That’s definitely big news around here these days! :D Finding a willing babysitter for four little kids is quite a feat. Well, that and paying her. {so worth it!}

I ate the most amazing lettuce wraps, an entire plate of sushi {maybe my very favorite food ever!}, sweet tarts, and birthday cake frozen yogurt! Oh, and watched a movie in there somewhere.

It was a good thing we stopped for an outfit pic before all the indulging started! :)

I wore this outfit from last year {sweater- Loft, $16, and dress American Eagle, $10ish} and added the skinnies {$10 from Dillard’s} for the cold:

I love my Tulle coat I snagged last year for $25 at Marshalls. It has a hood and sweet button cuffs!

and of course, the most versatile shoes ever- the gray leather wedges from Marshall’s {Jessica Simpson, $20}:

I wear them all the time! Here’s proof- another outfit they went with this week:

{cords- AE, $9, Target sweater $17, jewelry, $1.29, and $2 from Goodwill}

Oh, and remember that top from this summer?

I added my favorite Target sweater and made it work for me in winter too! ;)

Do you find yourself wearing the same thing over and over again? Me too!

Like these $6 American Eagle trousers from Goodwill {and the gray wedges! did you spot ‘em?}:

I wore them again this week with an unusual combo for me- cream and yellow from the Gap {outlet clearance $20, $13} paired with my other fave Goodwill items- my bracelet $1, earrings $2, and my vintage Italian leather heels, $5.

And remember this $15 polka-dot dress from last year?

I’m liking it in winter too!!

It was a Target find that I’ve worn over and over again:

I added my Frye boots and a $3 pair of Gap tights to change it up a little!

so.much.fun.

Turquoise tights just make me happy. I’m so loving the colorful tight trend this year! :D

So tell me....how do you take your clothes from summer to winter?

linking up at the pleated poppy!

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on words and heart thoughts + a free 8x10 scripture art print

2012-01-24T13:24:00.001-06:00

For the last few years, Psalm 19:14 has been one of my very favorite verses. I memorized it back when my babies were little bitty, and it’s been one of those verses that keeps replaying itself in my head all the time:

How I long for this to happen in me! But I know my flesh and my heart will fail without Him doing the work in me. I know how vile my thoughts can be- and how my heart dwells so much on the cares of this earth.

I’ve always made the assumption with this verse that whatever I happened to be thinking or saying needed to become more acceptable in His sight. Like my thoughts and speech- about the children, or my husband, or whatever I was doing- should become nicer, or more pleasing to Him. I wanted to fulfill the law of having the right words and heart, and knew I needed Jesus to help me, but I didn’t fully understand what that really meant.

I think I had it right- but only half of it. I should desire that my mouth and heart should become more and more pleasing to Him, but I didn’t really know what my mouth should say and my heart should dwell on specifically until I read this in Romans 10:

5For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I was blown away by those verses! First, because Jesus came- because He is Lord- my righteousness or His pleasure in me is not based on how I act or what I do or don’t. My righteousness doesn’t come from my behavior- it comes from faith in Jesus! His grace alone is sufficient!

And then I was even more taken by verse 8- here the cry for help that was given in Psalm 19:14 is answered by none other than JESUS Himself!!

What should be spoken by the words of my mouth?

The confession that Jesus is Lord.

What should my heart meditate on?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ {in all it’s power and glory!!}.

But why, what happens when I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart?

Justification in the sight of God and salvation is given- and the WORD {of faith} is near you because of those two actions!

What’s the word?

The WORD- the giver of faith, God, is near those who believe! In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1.

The mouth and heart of those who believe should openly confess Jesus is Lord, and their hearts should meditate on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead- the work that was done on the cross, and the grace that was bestowed upon us when our Lord and Savior conquered death and sin!! ahhhhhhhhh!! :DDDD

We don’t need to change ourselves-our own thoughts or words- we can’t do it anyway! When we look to Christ- and remember the cross and the empty tomb- HE does the work!!

Are you feeling someone has done you an injustice and out comes the words of anger? Meditate on what Jesus did- he bore the highest injustice on the cross, and nothing that is done to you can even come close to what he forgave of you. When you think about that, angry words will quickly change to ones of grace- because of the work He is doing in your heart!

Do you like to talk? How often do your words confess Jesus is Lord? Do you speak of Him at all? How often do you think on what Jesus has done for you? Could you meditate on Him in your “me” time? When I’m busy, it becomes so easy for me to section off my thoughts into what needs to be done next, and have another section of Jesus time- but when I really meditate on Him, He changes my daily attitude and my words!

Do you see what I mean? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks {Matthew 12:34}, and when Jesus fills your meditation of the heart, the overflow comes right out of your mouth, and Jesus pours out.

Now if you are like me, you see how miserably you’ve failed at meditating on Jesus and know you need to try harder.

My sweet friends, you cannot do this without Him.

Don’t fall in to the trap of thinking you can be better {more righteous!} at being like Jesus {one Satan would love you to try and fail at again and again!}.

Just ask Him, and He will do it for you. Because He did it all in the first place.

Doesn’t that make you want to jump out of your seat and dance?? It’s hard to wipe the grin off your face when you think about it!!

:DDDD {If only I had more than smiley faces!!!}

Isn’t He so good?

To visually remind us of Jesus and the cross every day, I made a print of Psalm 19:14 to share with you guys! I have mine on my fridge since I spend most of my time in the kitchen! It’s an 8x10 in size so if you wanted to protect it from water you can find a $1 frame at the dollar store.

Feel free to download and pass it along! Love you guys!! :)

download this 8x10 print

listen to more on words and hearts in the 10 minute audio devotion

linking up at Women Living Well!

giveaway winners :: Money Saving Mom’s Budget

2012-01-23T22:04:00.000-06:00

The winners of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget giveaway are:

#11:

#96:

#209:

If you won, please email me @ mandy @ biblicalhomemaking dot com with your home address! Congratulations! :D

goals update: week of january 23, 2012

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

Goals update from January 15:

Do:

make 4 more freezer meals and 2 bags of pancakes for the freezer- done- 5 meals + 3 bags!
clean out the refrigerator {I'm going for two shelves each day! ha!} –did four shelves and cleaned out the old food. Will keep working on it!

list at least 4 things on eBay {for some reason, I'm just dreading this! So thankful for their iPod app that allows me to list things easily!!} –five done, three to go. Sold one overnight!
check into hotel room and plane tickets for Blissdom '12!- looked but didn’t finalize. still haven’t!
do something fun with the kids- a fun project or a park trip- took the kids for lunch at McDonald’s on a cold day! They had fun!

Read:

read more chapters of my book- finished Money Saving Mom’s Budget!
did devos and prayer time before the start of week days

Learn:

memorize 3 more verses of 1 Peter 1- pretty much done! It’s needs some perfecting at the end! :P

Be:

work on smiling each time I ask the children to do things – did this and added please often. I saw some very good results from this- the boys have been telling me they love me even more than usual. It makes my heart happy! Nothing like that kind of sweet encouragement!

love these sweet babies...

goals for this week:

check into hotel room and plane tickets for Blissdom '12!- so excited- one month to go! :D
list two purses and one dress on eBay
make 4 more freezer meals
finish memorizing the end of 1 Peter 1:1-12
have friends over for dinner :D
work on new fitness choreography- Body Pump and Body Combat
spend 6-8 hours on freelance web work

wipe out more of the fridge- try to finish this week!
clean out the bottom of the oven

make a Goodwill trip- donation + shopping! ;)
enjoy these 3 Christmas gifts from my hubs: my journaling Bible during my quiet time, this book in my reading time, and my last week of my free MONTH of coffee at Starbucks! {ahhh! most awesome present ever!}

What are your goals for the week?

{Don’t you just love them! goals rock!}

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**disclosure: Links to Amazon are affiliate links through which I may receive a small percentage should you decide to purchase those items.

feeding a crowd on a budget {food on friday}

2012-01-20T12:38:00.001-06:00

I promised you the story behind this picture:

Well, we had a little impromptu get-together with some friends from church last weekend, and I made the oh-so-wise decision to ask my brother to take a picture of the food for me while I was getting everything ready...

Smart people know what happens when you ask your little brother for a favor-- he gets you back for those 15 years of childhood pranks you played on him! Now I’m a firm believer in the old phrase, “don’t dish it out if you can’t take it,” but I was off my game that night.

And to think I trusted this sweet face:

Yeah.

So while he was supposedly snapping pics of the food, I was telling a story to some new friends about the time we found a local newspaper from 1920 in our bathroom wall {it was so cool!}.

The photo speaks for itself, I suppose- I obviously use lots of hand gestures when I tell stories of great discoveries- and even better, I look like a maniacal serial killer when I chop tomatoes and tell fun stories at the same time!

{and I so couldn’t figure out why my friends were listening so intently from the other side of room... gotta love younger brothers who aren’t afraid to capture the awkward moment on film! ;) }

Luckily he did actually take a few of the food too! {thanks, Josh- I owe you one, bro! wink, wink}

Need to feed a crowd quickly without spending a fortune?

Enter homemade Subway sandwiches, the world’s easiest solution for party food!

We bought four large, fresh loaves of French bread at Sam’s, a huge bag of shredded lettuce, a double package of turkey, and a block of cheese, assembled and cut them deli style, and let everyone pile on the condiments themselves.

The cost? About $3 per foot with thick slices of real cheese and lots of meat! We fed 13 adults and 6 kids for around $18, plus the cost of a big bag of chips and lemonade and sodas. And I even got to take my Sunday nap an hour before the guests arrived!

Now that’s my kind of party! :)

What meals do you like to serve to a hungry crowd? I’d love some new ideas!

________________________________________

don’t forget to enter the big giveaway to win 1 of 3 copies of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget!

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the $10 business :: an introduction

2012-01-19T08:58:00.001-06:00

As if this week could get more exciting- the big sofa redo, this awesome giveaway, a very happy Wednesday, and then today... even more big news! :)

I’ve had this little project in the works for a few weeks, and I couldn’t wait to tell you all about it!

I got this in the mail last month for completing a survey:

and it really made me stop and think, because these verses from Matthew have been a recent point of long discussions at our house lately:

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:14-30 ESV

Now we probably all agree that there is a larger concept being taught here- Jesus is telling a parable of using what you’ve been given by God for the glory of His kingdom- your gifts, your talents, your skills, your creativity- all of it belongs to Him, and we are to give back to His kingdom by bearing fruit. We aren’t supposed to take salvation only for ourselves, or hold on to and hide what God has given us! That’s a sin that is worthy of eternal punishment. Some very serious business- Jesus isn’t kidding around here.

But just thinking about what this parable means literally- a talent was worth about 20 years of wages for a laborer. In today’s terms that would be about $600k for your average worker making $30k per year. Imagine if someone gave you that much money to invest!! Would you be a little scared? And the one with the greatest ability got a cool $3 million to play with! Yikes! That’s crazy! It’s not so hard to imagine the one with the least ability being a little scared of handling their exacting master’s $600k, is it now?

It’s been such an interesting topic for us!

We are supposed to be good stewards of what the Lord has given us- we are to be faithful in finances as much as every other part of our lives. There isn’t one compartment for the physical matters of this life and a separate one for the spiritual things. They are ALL His. Right?

So anyway, my idea is this: I want to take this $10 bill and follow the literal example Jesus gave in the parable. God gave me the $10 {who randomly gets $10 cash in the mail from a survey, anyway?} and I wanted to take it and see what it could become in six months, then in one year, and then in two.

I’m calling it The $10 Business- it’s basically what I consider starting a business from scratch. Pretty much anyone can find an extra $10 to do the same, don’t you think?

The Rules:

I will only reinvest any earnings the business makes for the entirety of the project {ending at year two.}
I will not pay myself for my time during these two years.
I will not go into debt.
Every transaction will be conducted with cash behind it.
Profits and losses will be recorded just the same way- the business will absorb any loss just as any gain.
I will give you guys a running total each quarter of profit, loss, and completed transactions.
I will render to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s, and follow business laws to the best of my ability.

This experiment is not a short-term one by any means, and I’m expecting as the investment funds grow, I will have to deal with larger transactions, which means more risk for the business. It’s going to be a big challenge- I can see lots of part-time work in my future!

Ahhh, I’m excited! This is going to be fun! I’ll be posting about this project on a regular basis! {as long as I don’t lose it all! ha!}

next week: the very first investment of my $10 business!

_______________________________________________

don’t forget to enter the big giveaway:

to win 1 of 3 copies of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget!

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{what I wore this week} is green an accessory? edition

2012-01-18T00:59:00.001-06:00

Ah, Wednesdays. You are fun. I get to talk about exciting, silly things like clothes on your day! It’s so much fun to be a woman. :D

I started doing what I wore this week posts to get motivated to get up and get dressed every morning for my family. I think it actually worked and I’m in the habit of getting dressed every day, even though I have to teach a fitness class every weekday afternoon! {it was a big improvement for me to get out of my daily uniform of black polyester Nike wear!}.

It’s been such a fun challenge, and you guys are so very sweet and encouraging- and so motivating for me to keep getting ready every day! {my husband thanks you! and I do too!}

And thank you Lindsey, for inspiring women to get dressed each day, and for making Wednesdays extra sweet!

So, to celebrate this lovely day- just for fun, I have a little quiz for you!
Can you tell me the difference between these two outfits?

I hope you got it! It was hard, but I knew you could!

the answer:

It’s what happens to your outfit after five minutes in Texas.

{It’s like 70 one moment and then before you turn around it’s 49!
No joke! Does this happen where you live too? Or is it only here?}

Oh well. It gives me an excuse to love jackets, anyway.

I just can’t decide if I love jackets more or the color green.

Combine the two and I will fall in love every.single.time.

Anyway, cognac riding boots are right up there with them- they must be my second favorite accessory {or is it my third? Jackets, the color green, and boots. That’s it. Third.}

Deep blue-greens haunt me too.

I bet you have an accessory that you’re haunted by too, don’t you?

One that you are eerily drawn to in every store- even Goodwill?

Accessories can wield so much power over a woman. It’s scary.

My fourth favorite accessory?

Knives.

I told you accessories could be scary.

Have a lovely Wednesday, friends!

{oh, and you’ll have to wait for food on Friday for the rest of the knife story! ;)}

linking up at the Pleated Poppy!

don’t forget to enter the big giveaway:

to win 1 of 3 copies of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget!

win a copy of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget :: giveaway

2012-01-17T09:28:00.001-06:00

I have a very exciting giveaway for you guys today!

Okay, so have you heard of Money Saving Mom? It’s one of my very favorite blogs! It’s a site dedicated to “helping you become a better home economist,” where you’ll find the newest shopping deals and get inspired to become organized and save money on a daily basis. {I love that!}

Crystal Paine is the woman behind it all. She is truly an amazing lady- I’ve been reading her blog since 2007! Crystal was the one who inspired me to read Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover, the book that led us to getting out of consumer debt back in 2008, and allowed us to buy this old house in 2010.

I give all the credit to Crystal for leading us to the right way to handle our finances- I’m so thankful that she shared their story and so strongly encouraged debt-free living on her blog! {Her family is very inspiring- her husband made it through law school and their family stayed entirely debt-free, and they just paid for a home completely with cash!}.

Her newest project is the Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands A Year. You might’ve noticed it was on my goal list to read this month. She sent me a copy to review, and I read it in less than two weeks! {reading is coming back this year! yay!}

I’ve read and loved Crystal’s blog for so long, so of course I was eager to read her book too! I didn’t know if I could learn anything new from it after being such a long-time reader, but I was actually pleasantly surprised.

I was excited to read the chapter on doing a debit-free experiment for three months! That was a new concept to me! We don’t use credit cards, but we do love the debit card, so I think that would be tough for us! I love a challenge!

The book also gave me a fresh outlook on the importance of taking things like budgeting slowly instead of leaping into it full-force like I am apt to do- a concept that could branch over into all sorts of personal habits. I’m so into that.

Here’s the thing about it: I think her blog is amazing- you can find a wealth of information there- but it comes in bits and pieces, told through lots of clicks and shorter articles. The book gives you the steps you need to know, in the order you need it. Which I LOVED. It wasn’t overwhelming at all; in fact, it was just the opposite- one baby step after the other of practical ways to put your money and life back in order.

Blogs may become more and more popular {and I love them so!!}, but Crystal’s book made me realize the value of a single volume of information- it’s the whole story told by the author in the way in the order they want to present it. Does that makes sense? It was just so enjoyable to read her book- it was like having a conversation, or listening to a friend.

I also loved reading her personal stories as she weaved them throughout the book. The Paine family is so humble- but it’s so obvious that they love the Lord. I so admire their dedication to living for Jesus, and I love how they honor Him by sharing their testimony of His faithfulness in their finances and other parts of their lives. They’ve been great stewards of the resources they’ve been given, and it’s a blessing to see them and have their example in this culture that never has enough.

You’re going to love this too: all of the proceeds from this book go to Compassion International. No joke. Isn’t that the coolest thing ever? Ahhh, I love it!! :D

And my most favorite thing about the book: it totally inspired us to get back to a budget again and to really buckle down and pay off our home in the next year or two. Since we are debt-free but the house, we haven’t been paying as much attention as we should to our spending and saving, and the MSM's Budget really motivated us to get back to paying off our house debt!

The book is a must-read if you want to find order in your life again and make your money work for you instead of against you. I loved reading every chapter {especially the one about going completely plastic-free!} and was excited to pick it up each day and get motivated all over again.

So you all know I was completely thrilled when Crystal emailed me last month to see if I would be willing give away a few copies of her book!! Three of you lucky readers get to win a copy of Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands A Year!

All you need to do to enter is leave me a quick comment answering this question:

Do you use a budget each month?

You can also earn two bonus entries each day by using the buttons below to share this on Facebook and Twitter! Just leave me a comment for each instance to get another entry!

Entries close at 11:59 p.m. PST Sunday night, Jan. 22, 2012 and three winners will be announced Monday morning! Good luck!

*2nd picture from MoneySavingMom.com

**disclosure: I received no compensation for this post other than a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links through which I may receive a small percentage should you decide to purchase the book.

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how to paint furniture upholstery :: a DIY sofa makeover

2012-01-16T14:19:00.001-06:00

Do you have an old couch that’s well beyond the point of cleaning?

We did:

That picture almost makes it look pretty, but here’s what it really looked like:

It was big, and after months of sitting in our back room, I had no desire to take on the huge project of reupholstering it. I bought it intending to do just that, but I needed about 16-18 yards of fabric to complete the job, and I knew deep down in my heart I would buy all that fabric and never finish it {do you ever just know it’s not in you? lol!}. So I was stuck with a couch that I couldn’t sell.

One late night as I was in bed trying to fall asleep, I was thinking of all the things I needed to do {including doing something with the couch!} and I remembered I had some of this needing to be used:

and being the crazy DIY’er that I am, I jumped out of bed and found it and started painting my couch cushion. Yes, I am that weird! After I painted one side of a cushion, I went back to bed, and couldn’t fall asleep I was so excited. {even weirder, I know! ;) }

I’d read that painting furniture had lots of disadvantages like scratching, peeling, stiffness, etc., so I was super excited to try this liquid water-based stain instead of paint. It doesn’t have the same protective coating as paint since it’s just stain for wood projects, so I was hoping that would give it a softer finish and let it really soak into the upholstery.

{oh, and you can get Minwax brand water-based stain tinted in any of these colors- I had the Charcoal Gray on hand for a table project, but I can totally see using any of the others too! I can’t wait to try another color!}

The test cushion did very, very well, and I was so stoked, the next day I went for it. Yep. I wood-stained my big old cream couch Charcoal Gray. I started by giving it a good wipe down to clean off any surface dirt, then I just started painting the stain on it.

It went right on- all you have to do is shake, open, and start painting. You’ll want to make sure you paint or roll with the grain of the fabric.

I was really happy with how one coat did:

The only downside for me was how much stain the whole couch took. I used a can per every 7-8 square feet. And the cans were around $10 each, so I ended up spending about $70 to cover it from top to bottom with two coats. The padding seemed to absorb the stain quite a bit on the arms and back of the seats.

If you have the ability to remove your cushion covers like this, I would totally recommend it. The stain went much farther when I did:

Painting the whole couch twice took me around 5-6 hours, and I redid the pillows by seam ripping the cushion covers and using the original as a pattern for the new ones, then sewed the new pillow covers to match the new gray color. {that’s a post all of it’s own!}

I ended up with this sweet little lady about 15 hours of work and close to $100 later:

I love it. The picture above was taken after 6 weeks of use, and I’m still a huge fan of the stain method. It's definitely stiffer than it was before, but you don’t notice because the back cushions are so soft and cushy. It’s nearly waterproof, and anything you spill wipes right off. I love the fact that my four little kids can’t destroy it. :D It’s been wearing very well, but I still kept my leftover stain in case I wanted to touch it up.

Everyone who saw it couldn’t believe it wasn’t the original couch color- they thought it was a whole new couch, and were completely surprised that I had treated it to make it gray! I totally loved that! :)

Two things I don’t like as much about the painting/staining method:
the high investment it took to redo it which I noted before, and the fact that the cushions wrinkle more than they did with the original fabric. I didn’t even notice it really until I started inspecting it the other day. It’s also dries a little shinier than regular fabric I think.

Even with all of it’s imperfections, I’m so, so excited to give it a funky brand new look! It’s so much more fun to have an adorable gray and yellow bird couch instead of a icky cream one! :D

Supplies you’ll need:

a good paintbrush and/or roller

floor covering

Minwax water-based stain tinted to your color
{how much you need will vary depending on your project, but one couch took 7-8 cans for me.}

Instructions:

1. prep your area and wipe off any surface dirt from your furniture

2. shake your stain very well

3. pour in your paint pan

4. start painting with the grain of your fabric {be gentle- it’ll splash easily!}

5. let each coat dry to the touch

6. like walls, when you can’t see the original fabric color at all, you’re done

7. enjoy your brand new furniture without having to reupholster!

*results may vary, so try this at your own risk! as with all DIY projects, we are not experts so of course, any particular method or outcome is not guaranteed or necessarily deemed safe or reliable. We’re just using the resources we have to make something old look new again. :) Good luck, and let me know how it goes if you try it!

linking up at Savvy Southern Style, Blue Cricket Designs, It’s Overflowing, and The Thrifty Home.

ebook giveaway winner

2012-01-13T16:47:00.001-06:00

And the winner of Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule ebook is:

jennybc

I have always thought of myself as a cleaner by nature but I also know that my home has a personality that changes with the ages of my children. My older two are in college and as they are home right now, the mess abounds! I also have a 7 year old and I keep 2 small children so my days are busy and the stuff that they require amazes me! I have a system I use but fatigue gets me some days. Having a definite system will help me end my days in peace and start my days with joy!

Congrats, Jenny! Email me at mandy at biblicalhomemaking dot com for your copy! :D

don’t forget:

BH readers can get a copy this week for just $4.99! Just enter the code Clean2012 at checkout!

battling the discontentment/dieting cycle: you’re not alone

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-06:00

It’s the new year- which means lots of women are on diets and battling with food and their weight {again!}.

Can I tell you something? Food is something that I’ve struggled with at many different points in my adult life- especially after giving birth four times in 5 1/2 years. But it was sometime after high school when I first became worried about my weight and size, and honestly, it’s something I still struggle with off and on today.

Just when I think it’s gone and I’ve forgotten to care any more, it seems Satan will whack me on the head and say, “Look at your hips!! You’ve gained five pounds. You’re so fat.” And I totally fall for his lies, over and over again- so I’ll start to worry about it. He’s still the same master at deceiving women that he was in the garden.

The food vs. appearance has not been an easy battle for me, and I think it just isn’t easy for the vast majority of women. I wanted to share with you some of my struggle with food and size- last summer I wrote this post on examining your heart in diet and fitness, and it kind of describes what I’ve learned about the whole thing.

I used to worry a lot about eating birthday cake or Thanksgiving food. I worried that it would cause me to gain weight, so I wouldn’t really enjoy it if/when I ate it. I still think about it occasionally, but lately I’ve come to learn that I should just enjoy the food.

If it’s something you want to eat, like your son’s birthday cake- partake, enjoy it, and get back on track tomorrow. This life is more than food. It’s about loving others, and if you’re too consumed with thoughts of eating {too much or too little!}, you’re missing the point.

I said something like that back in this post:

It's a delicate balance- one of desiring to honor the body that God has given us, and being thankful and enjoying the food He has given us. It's easier said than done, of course. But God gives us so much grace. Being thin isn't a sin. Being overweight isn't a sin. It's the focus of our hearts- are we letting food control us either way? Pray through this. And don't be afraid to let God take over the stronghold eating and your appearance has in your heart.
On the practical side, are there little daily decisions we could make that would make us healthier for His glory? Sure, I think so- like replacing fake foods with the foods He has provided naturally gives us healthier bodies. Instead of eating processed and preservative-injected chicken nuggets, you can choose to eat a fresh grilled chicken breast. It's just about being thankful and enjoying the naturally-occurring food God has provided for us here on the earth.

It’s not about going too far the other way, either, from what I can tell. Sometimes we can become so obsessed with serving only natural foods and eating right that we are still missing the point. The chicken nuggets aren’t the issue themselves.

It’s about God. He is our focus. He is the one who gives us contentment with our bodies. He is the one who gave us the food and the body in the first place. He is the one that gives us joy. We can’t find our joy in how we look, or in what we eat or don’t.

This is what I’m telling myself too. I love fitness, and I love food. But so many times I screw up and start focusing on those things and myself, and I stop looking to the Lord for my approval.

It’s so wrong.

It’s idolatry.

I feel like Paul does when he says, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” {Romans 7:15}

Do you know what I mean?

It’s awful. And I’m not any good at changing myself. At all.

But I’m so, so glad there’s some very good news.

Reading on, in Romans 8:1, we find the answer to our sinful, weak flesh- the flesh that loves itself, and can’t keep it’s eyes on Jesus no matter how hard it tries.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Did you read it? He’s overcome it!! He put sin to death! He’s condemned it! And He did it on the cross, so we are no longer slaves to sin!

And say what? He’s given us the Spirit too?

Romans 8:26:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

HE helps us! And we don’t even have to know how to pray the right way! {that’s how imperfect we are!} We cry out, “Abba, Father!” {8:15}, and He intercedes for us! For our good and His glory!

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

Isn’t that the best news you’ve heard all day?

No diet, no certain food, no weight, no size, will ever bring you joy like He can!

So which one will you choose- your way or His?

His?

Joy. Peace. Love. Comfort. Acceptance. Approval. Relief from your heavy burden.

He can give it to you. Right now.

Just cry out to Him.

Thank you, Jesus, for your work on the cross that you extended to us, that goes even as far as our sinfulness in our diet and appearance!! We praise you, Father for your provision!! And thank you Holy Spirit for bringing us comfort and interceding on our behalf!

HE IS SO GOOD! He gives us such wonderful grace because He loves us so very much.

Have a joyful Friday, my sweet friends. He is faithful!!

linking up at Women Living Well!

thrifty thursday :: creative & frugal gift ideas

2012-01-12T06:09:00.000-06:00

Ready for some thriftiness?

I’m so excited about these creative, frugal gifts I’m sharing with you today!

The coolest thing? They were not gifts I gave, but gifts I received this Christmas! I thought they were so fantastic. and even better- they can be given year-round.

My sweet sister-in-law, Cayse, gave me this beautiful book box:

I was really excited about the box, but I was thrilled when I opened it and found this:

She made me a box full of Scriptures she thought I would love, and wrote them all by hand y’all! I couldn’t imagine a more meaningful, lovely gift! It is so special to me!

I just love her. My brother did a very, very wonderful thing marrying her, didn’t he?

And my husband held up his reputation for crazy fun gifts this year too.

Just one example of his past gifts: for my 26th birthday, he gave me a tin of York peppermints:

Inside it I found this:

It was a ring he’d made for me by hammering a 1944 quarter for hours and hours. :) Inside the ring you can still read, “Liberty, Quarter Dollar, United States of America, 1944.”

He’s such an awesome man. I did good too, didn’t I? :D

So anyway, after all the presents had been opened on Christmas Day, he brought me this box:

I honestly had no idea what it could be. I didn’t ask for anything in particular, and he’d already given me lots of things, so I was really thrown for a loop when he handed me this one. I cautiously opened the edge of the box, took a peek inside, and was a little freaked out to see an old towel! I don’t know why, but thoughts of live creepy animals came to mind!

I decided to go all the way and opened it to find this aluminum foil contraption:

It took me a few seconds to figure out what it was, but I couldn’t stop laughing when I did!

It was a homemade ice-sculptured heart with a shopping card inside!

Ah, I love him.

The man knows how to melt a girl’s heart.

hee hee.

And I can’t forget another frugal gift that was another one of my favorites!

My bestie Abbie and I always exchange Christmas gifts every year, and this year one of the gifts she gave me was this new in the box Pottery Barn charging station! I think my jaw actually dropped when I opened it! I love PB, and I know how much these things cost.

So I couldn’t stop oohing and aahing, and because we’re so much alike, she knew I would be as much, if not more excited by knowing how much she paid for it! :D

Yeah, you wanna know too right?

$5. At the Pottery Barn outlet!

Now that’s a seriously awesome find, even for thrifters like us!

I have the most amazing family and friends, don’t I? :D

They knew just how to bless me with gifts that were thoughtful, creative and frugal this year!

What thrifty things have you been up to? Wanna share? Leave me a comment with your link and I’ll add your thrifty posts here!

Kristin’s adorable recycled winter baby dress:

{what i wore this week} leather, stripes, & eBay edition

2012-01-11T01:31:00.001-06:00

Our winter has been so mild in Texas this year! It was in the 70’s last week, so it’s pretty much jacket weather around here these days, even with lots of rain. Sweaters, boots and leather jackets were pretty much the theme this week!

I shared a little about my moto jacket find in my post over at Roo Magazine yesterday- I wanted a dark leather jacket- so I waited and searched in the spring and was completely over the moon about scoring it brand new with tags on eBay last spring for only $28- a total steal for a brand new leather jacket! My local Goodwill charges $30-$50 minimum for a used, dingy one! {the exception being my $5 white one I found in Dallas! that was crazy! Having four kids and being accident-prone, I didn’t really need a white one, so after all was said and done I ended up giving it to a friend who could use it!}.

I was almost equally as excited this fall to score these Seven for All Mankind jeans in the perfect length and my favorite wash for only $6 from Goodwill. :) The shirt and shoes came in as the most expensive items of the outfit- the leather Giani Bini’s were $28 clearance at Dillard’s, and the striped shirt was $14ish from Ann Taylor Loft.

Oh, and I can’t stop with the stripes. I love them {as you will see!!}!

And apparently I’m not the only one who loves them- last week Lindsey posted all about her love for stripes, and I just fell in love with one of her outfit pins:

Source: twinyolks.com via lindsey on Pinterest

I loved it so much, I wanted to copy it with what I had in my closet {a striped AE shirt and my clearance wool skirt!} and make it a little more wintery:

I kind of liked it! I added my green Target cardigan {$17} and my $50 Target boots from last year. With my love for stripes and bouncy skirts I think I might be able to pull off one more version of it! I loved that one!

And then I think this outfit was my favorite one this week! I’ve worn this A&F striped sweater for a long time and I think I’ve almost worn it out- I had to patch a hole in it this week. :) I bought the floral tank on clearance at the same time, and paired them both with my $7 thrifted jeans.

And the boots are one of my more recent eBay purchases.

I have a little confession: I’m a clothing trader! Someday I’ll have to do an entire post about it, but basically I try to buy and sell my clothing to make a profit or at least to try to break even.

So, being the bay-trader {ha!} that I am, I’ve decided to sell these:

in exchange for these cognac Frye’s! I would keep them both if I could and sell something else, but they are similar styles, and I don’t want to have multiples of a pricier item when it’s selling season for it. I don’t know if I will make money or not, but I should break even for sure!

So tell me, do you eBay your clothes too?

I ‘fessed up, so now it’s your turn! :D

Don’t forget to check out the giveaway for the ebook, Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule! Only one day left to enter!

linking up at the pleated poppy for what I wore wednesday!

goals update + plans for this week {jan 9-15}

2012-01-10T12:46:00.000-06:00

Okay, so it's so motivating to be accountable to you guys for my monthly goals!!

Here is my goal update for the second week of January:

do:

I organized my sewing room this week! I have my very own desk now, and while it's not really decorated, I'm loving it like crazy. I have an office! whoop!

the sewing room "before"
I had my work cut out for me!

made 7 freezer meals, along with one big gallon bag of homemade biscuits
there was even one day I had all the laundry done! {okay, more like 2 whole hours!} now that was exciting!
we are finally getting back into a school routine- so we did homeschooling and research projects last week

read:

almost 1/2 done with the Money Saving Mom's Budget {it releases today!!}
and had my daily Bible time during the weekdays

learn:

Memorized 1 Peter 1:1-6- this is so exciting to me! It's going faster than I thought it would!

be:

on the Gentleness challenge- I've been listening to the tone of my voice and have been really convicted that I sound harsher than I should. Working on sweetening my tone and saying thank you and please to the kids more often instead of commanding them. I'm not sure if this week has been more challenging, or I'm more aware of my fault; either way it's definitely been harder this week to be gentle in speech.

This week's {Jan. 9-15} goals:

make 4 more freezer meals and 2 bags of pancakes for the freezer
clean out the refrigerator {I'm going for two shelves each day! ha!}
read more chapters of my book
memorize 3 more verses of 1 Peter 1
list at least 4 things on eBay {for some reason, I'm just dreading this! So thankful for their iPod app that allows me to list things easily!!}
check into hotel room and plane tickets for Blissdom '12!
do something fun with the kids- a fun project or a park trip
work on smiling each time I ask the children to do things

Don't forget to enter the big giveaway for Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule! All you have to do is leave me a quick comment to enter! :D

fashion planning in the new year

2012-01-10T11:27:00.001-06:00

Happy Tuesday, friends! I'm over at Roo Mag today sharing all about setting goals and planning your wardrobe purchases ahead of time this year! {oh, and you won't believe how much I paid for this brand new leather jacket from eBay! I was so excited!}

Being intentional in planning your wardrobe can save you both time and money. It’s so much simpler to get dressed in the morning when you have items in our closet you love to wear! Setting fashion goals and planning for your clothing purchases this year can both simplify your life and keep your budget in check. Read more....

seeing acts 29

2012-01-09T11:54:00.000-06:00

It's been one of those mornings around here- you know the ones where you wonder why your mind can't hold a single thought, your kiddos can't focus either, you struggle to get one thing actually completed, and coffee doesn't help? Yeah. It's 11:15 and I've showered and dressed, read my devotions, fed the kids, cleaned up their mess and made cookies. If only I hadn't planned to do twice as much, I'd like that list! ha!

a different twist on cookies in a jar-
{the one thing I did finish this morning!}

Our weekend was a different one for sure. Little Haven's burial was on Saturday. We practically spent the whole weekend together as a church family- a weekend full of tears and fellowship. I'm so amazed to see what God is doing in our little church body. I'm blown away at the love my friends are showing to our pastor and his family- how they are just jumping right in, and it's so cool to see the bonds are being forged among us as we work, laugh, and cry together.

Haven's death kind of rocked our little church. We are only about 100 in number, so our church service yesterday was a special one. Instead of our usual sermon and worship, we went over Psalm 46- the psalm my friends had picked for their little Haven and the battles she fought. Between each verse we had worship and as God laid on the hearts of His people- prayer and encouragement and Scripture readings. We had an open microphone and you could feel the Holy Spirit's presence. It was so awesome.

Our church is part of the Acts 29 network, and it's been so, so cool to see this weekend what it looks like to live as the next chapter in Acts. I feel so very blessed to get to live life with these friends. They have become like family.

Tonight is Haven's celebration service. It's a service about the gospel- about Jesus- and it's a celebration of Haven's life. It's at the biggest church in town, and I know there will be unbelievers there mourning the loss of this sweet little girl.

Our prayer as a church is that those who don't believe will see Jesus in this little girl- and come to faith in Christ. I've got chill bumps right now just typing it- it's one of those things I think God has His hand all over. We're praying that it will be all for His Glory, and that His name will be made known among the people, and that He will work mightily tonight. Will you pray that along with us? Over 6000 people were praying for Haven on Facebook, and there may be over a thousand there in person tonight!

Jesus, make your glory known! HE is so, so GOOD! Praise His Holy name. He is so good to His people, and all things work for the good of those whom He has called. It's so exciting what God will do! He does not leave us or abandon us. He brings unbelievable joy in the midst of great sorrow. Oh, who could ever know the plans of our God?!!

It would be such a blessing if you would pray for the family tonight- and that people will see Jesus and come to know Him! Thank you guys!

taco soup :: recipe + pics {food on friday}

2012-01-06T11:45:00.001-06:00

Ok, so ever since Christmas I’ve been waiting to share this recipe with you guys!

It’s special to me because my sweet friend Alissa {love her! she’s so creative- she would write an awesome blog!} brought it to us after I had my 4th baby and passed the recipe along to me. Every time I make it, I think of her {and newborn babies!}! :)

It’s my favorite soup, hands down- it’s delicious, low-fat, and it’s so easy to make double or triple batches. I made some this week for the freezer that I hope to be able share with my friends in the next few weeks. {thank you for your sweet, sweet comments and prayers! You guys are the best. I mean it.}

Here’s what you’ll need:

If you want to make a 4x batch, you can use bulk cans from Sam’s like I did! Otherwise, you’ll only need two regular cans of each.}

You’ll also need one can of Rotel per batch. Rotel never ceases to astound me in price- for almost $1 you get about 1/2 of can of a tiny can of tomatoes and green chiles. I can’t take it, so I’ll just buy a can of green chiles if I’m tripling or doubling a batch and add them to taste. I added this 4 oz. can to the 4x batch and it wasn’t spicy in the least- my heat-fearing 8 year old loved it! I’m laughing as I write this, because it’s kind of a ghetto way to give you a recipe shortcut, but I can’t help it. I’m too cheap!

or

Brown 2 lbs. of ground turkey {or beef}. I’ve noticed you can cut back significantly on the meat without noticing a difference in taste. If you are on a tight budget, go for 1 lb. and see if you like it! In my quad batch, I used 5 lbs. of meat instead of 8, and it was still perfect.

Notice anything strange about this pic? yes, that’s the reflection of my right hand over there in the lid. Ava loves to cook {and eat!}! I think she was asking me if she could have some uncooked turkey at the time!

Add the appropriate amount of taco seasoning per pound. If you want to make this at home, you can save lots of money! Here’s a yummy recipe for homemade taco seasoning mix.

Add your veggies, juice and all, and stir in your ranch dressing mix.

Here’s another homemade ranch mix version that sounds good but I haven’t tried yet. Apparently, I like to skip buying pricey Rotel but I have no problem buying powdered mix! heehee! For real though, it tastes so good in this. I’d like to try to make the homemade version someday, but it was nice to have the mix on hand this time.

My pot wouldn’t hold that much taco soup so I had to use an extra container to hold the 4th batch! This recipe is hearty.

Simmer it up for 20-30 minutes, and serve! We added cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream. Very good! {If you’re on a diet, skip the extras!}

Here’s what I made from the pictures above! Pretty sweet, for less than 30 minutes of effort!

I didn’t buy any of these ingredients on sale, so at regular store price each batch cost about $6. Our family can’t eat a whole batch yet, so it stretches for *almost* 2 meals. This is a recipe you could really cut corners on for sure by making your own pinto beans, reducing the meat portion and buying it and veggies on sale, making your own seasonings- there are so many ways to cut costs here if you have the time.

here’s the single batch recipe:

2 lbs ground turkey
1 package taco seasoning
2 cans pinto beans
2 cans whole kernel corn
2 cans whole stewed tomatoes
1 can rotel
1 large or 2 small packets of buttermilk ranch dressing mix

Brown your meat, then add the taco seasoning
following packet directions. Add the remainder of ingredients, undrained, to your large
pot and let simmer for 20-30 minutes. Garnish with tortilla chips, cheese, and sour cream if desired.

Easy, yummy soup and easy to freeze too! I hope you all enjoy it as much as we do! And thank you, Alissa, for introducing it to our family! :D

linking up at the 5d5w free for all! and feasting in fellowship!

sweet haven grace

2012-01-05T14:56:00.001-06:00

My heart is aching today for my friends. Yesterday, my pastor’s little girl, Haven Grace, died at three years old.

Three. Years. Old.

Haven was born with a serious heart condition and was very ill until, by a great miracle, she survived a heart transplant in August of 2010. She seemed like a new child overnight, and suddenly she was running around with my little ones every Sunday after church, bursting with energy and just like mine, talking a mile a minute.

She captured our hearts right away- the first time we really met her, she held out her arms and said to my husband, “hode me.” He was more than a little surprised, but took her from the arms of her mama, and a big smile spread across his face as Haven looked up with a smile at him. My husband- the man whom I’d never seen willingly hold any child but ours.

She was truly special. I really don’t like to say it like that because it seems so cliché to say it of a person, but she was genuinely a gift from God.

Four weeks ago, as we stood in church singing, I spotted little bitty Haven in the arms of her tall grandfather, lifting her hands in praise as she sang.

I couldn’t stop crying.

Tiny hands lifted in praise to the Creator of all things.

Jesus had given Haven a wonderful gift. She knew Him. It seems crazy to say it, but seeing her interact with people was amazing. She would sit in the laps of my friends at church, look them straight in the eye and smile deep into their soul. It was like having Jesus tell you “I love you” through the eyes of a tiny little child.

I would hear stories from her dad as he led our growth group of how she wouldn’t cry or fuss when they stuck her over and over again- how the nurses and doctors were in awe, and how she drew them in and made them love her like the rest of us.

She had health issues; like any heart-transplant patient, her life was never really “normal.” Her mama, Lacy, showed me her medicine cabinet once and I was blown away. They had more medicine bottles than drinking glasses.

But her frequent heart caths came back rejection-free, and we all rejoiced as life returned to semi-normal for their sweet little family. They were able to move back home after living in the Ronald McDonald house for months, and Haven and her mama got to come to church when everyone was well.

Then suddenly last week, Haven started showing serious signs of rejection- they care-flighted her to the hospital last Wednesday and exactly one week later, her little heart gave up and she went to be with Jesus. Just like that.

My heart breaks for my friends. They are some of the sweetest, most faithful people I know. They’ve been such amazing examples of trusting in God through trial, and to see their faith being refined in such an impossible situation testifies unquestionably to the work and comfort of the Holy Spirit. We’re so blessed to know them and to see God working in their lives.

I don’t even know what happens when you lose a child. I try to imagine it, but I can’t really. At all.

I don’t know what happens next. I am having a hard time going about my daily chores and everyday life- what can this day be like for them?

I know they rejoice in the Hope. I know they aren’t grieving like the rest of the world does. They know they will see her again.

But they are still living here, together without her for the time, and that breaks my heart.

I love them dearly. Will you pray for their family this week, and as you remember them?

Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule + a giveaway

2012-01-05T12:23:00.001-06:00

I’ve got a special treat for you guys today! My newest sponsor, Christine, from iDreamofClean is here to share three easy steps to seeing a cleaner home right now, and to tell you more about her ebook, Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule! {Okay, so, when I read the title, I knew I couldn’t wait to read it! Create your perfect cleaning schedule? I’m so in!}

And guess what! She’s giving a copy of her ebook away to you guys too! {Jump down to find out how to enter!}

I’ve enjoyed getting to know Christine, and I think you will too- she’s an amazing lady. She had her second baby just three weeks ago and she’s already back in the swing of things! I interviewed her the other day so you guys could all get to know her too. {I added the bold and italics- she’s got such great things to say, I couldn’t help myself!} :)

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm married to my high-school sweetheart and we are passionate about Jesus, marriage and family. We were in marriage ministry for almost ten years and were blessed to work with and learn from some of the best marriage experts around. Our focus has changed somewhat now that my husband is a pastor to young adults (18-34 year olds) but, thankfully, we still have opportunities almost daily to talk marriage.

We have two sons, a 2 ½ year old and a 3 week old, who keep me busy throughout the day…and night! Thus, my love for coffee has increased exponentially since their entrance into our family.

2. How did your blog iDreamof Clean and the idea for your ebook Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule come about?

The idea for iDreamofClean was born because, due to our life circumstances, I was constantly cleaning. Our little family of three lived in a 740 square foot high-rise loft, so we put in on the market in order to move into a home with more than one room. When you live in a home that small, you have to keep it organized and clean or you feel like your living on top of each other. Add in a couple of showings a week and your normal cleaning gets put into overdrive!

Shortly after launching iDreamofClean.net I began researching cleaning schedules to share with readers. The few I found didn’t work for my life because I didn’t have a traditional home. I tried to look at the schedules through the lens of other homeowners, apartment dwellers, or renters and realized that the schedules wouldn’t be perfect for their home either.

I came to the realization that we not only have different homes, but we also have different lifestyles, work arrangements, and cleaning preferences. That means it’s almost impossible to create a pre-made cleaning schedule that works for everyone. Each of us needs our own plan.

Creating a custom cleaning plan, however, can be time consuming, so I wanted to find a way to walk someone through the process easily. Thus, the idea for Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule was born.

3. Okay, let’s say I'm a total cleaning newbie- what can I start doing today to get on the path to a cleaner home?

Implementing a few routines in your life works wonders for keeping your home clean. The very first thing I would recommend is to “do one thing” every time you enter and leave a room.

When you walk into the closet, put one item that has fallen to the floor back on a hanger.
When you leave the living room, look for a glass to take to the kitchen.
When you walk into your bedroom, straighten the pillows on your bed.
When you are getting ready in the bathroom, clear the counters or wipe them down.

What you do doesn’t matter as much as consistency. Do any one thing as often as possible and you’ll see a noticeable difference almost immediately.

The second habit I’d recommend is to make up your bed daily. I used to think that it was silly to make up a bed every day when you were just going to get in it again that night, but having a made up bed actually makes the entire room feel cleaner (even if it’s not).

If you’re looking for minimal work, the final thing I’d recommend is to clean your kitchen every night until it’s spotless. Wash every dish, clear and disinfect the counters, switch the dishtowels, and take out the trash. It may not be the most fun thing to do after a long day, but your morning will be much more productive when you don’t have to deal with leftovers from the night before.

If you’re still motivated after doing those three things, you can continue the journey with the tips found in my 31 Days to Make Cleaning a Habit series.

_____________________________________________________

Isn’t she awesome? I’ve just started implementing the steps for creating a cleaning schedule routine, and I love how easy they are and how each one is broken down specifically for you. She also provides lots of helpful resources for getting started and planning worksheets to get you on track!

Want to win a copy of Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule? Simply leave me a comment below with the answer to this question:

Are you a cleaner by nature, or is cleaning a habit you are learning?

Don’t want to wait for the giveaway? BH readers can get a copy this week for just $4.99! Just enter the code Clean2012 at checkout!

The ebook giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. on January 12, and the winner will be announced Friday morning!

{what I wore this week} christmas vacation edition

2012-01-04T02:01:00.001-06:00

Okay, I have to tell you- it was so, so nice to have an easy week like the last one! I got to spend lots of time with family, sleep in, and really just enjoyed seeing more of my husband and relaxing a bit. It was lovely! I enjoyed getting dressed even more than usual after getting 9 hours of sleep a night! :D

I got to mix in some new items with old this time- my hubby took me on a special day out last week to do after-Christmas clearance shopping at the Gap Outlet and I scored some sweet deals! I was so excited! And I got a few really fun finds from a Goodwill in Dallas too. :D

Here are a few of my mixed {well-rested! :P} outfits from last week:

This sweater and belt is from Target, $9 and $3, the shirt is from AE, $9, and the jeans are eBayed Hudson’s, $27. The leather wedges are Jessica Simpson from Marshall’s, $20.

a new and old outfit! Gap t-shirt, $3, cardigan, $8, jeans- Goodwill, BKE, $6, belt, AE, $9, Steve Madden flats from Ross, $17.

And on my fun shopping trip, I found this little baby at Goodwill, brand new from Fossil for $12.99! :D I have been looking for a camera bag that would actually hold my camera since we got it last year! I wanted leather in my wildest dreams, and hey! Goodwill made my dreams come true! :P

I’m still in love with my Old Navy ruffle shirt I bought last year. I think I got it for $12? Yellow and stripes? Super fun, paired with my $3 cardigan and my $7 skinny jeans from Goodwill.

This was a Christmas Gap/thrifted outfit: the sheer shirt was from the Gap, $8, and the sweater was a splurge at almost $20! Gap sweaters last forever- I wash and wear them all year long and they don’t fall apart or lose their shape like my Target ones do.

I didn’t know whether I liked it with the sweater more or without! What do you think? :)

The jeans were thrifted AE- $7, and the boots were a spring eBay find!

And that camera bag!! :D It’s one of those sweet little joys in life. I can imagine it going all over the world with us in the next few decades. :)

How about you? Did you find any ways to stretch your Christmas money with sales/clearance deals {or Goodwill specials!} last week? :)

linking up at the Pleated Poppy!

Biblical Homemaking

what i wore this week {why I do wiww edition}

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-17

What do you believe in? What do you hope to accomplish in your days here in this place?

homeschooling: the struggle & finding what works for us

goals update Jan. 30 2012- video style

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:5-6

getting motivated to work out :: group fitness classes

the $10 business: the first investment {#1}

{what i wore this week} restyling it edition

So tell me....how do you take your clothes from summer to winter?

linking up at the pleated poppy!

on words and heart thoughts + a free 8x10 scripture art print

giveaway winners :: Money Saving Mom’s Budget

goals update: week of january 23, 2012

What are your goals for the week?

{Don’t you just love them! goals rock!}

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feeding a crowd on a budget {food on friday}

don’t forget to enter the big giveaway to win 1 of 3 copies of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget!

the $10 business :: an introduction

don’t forget to enter the big giveaway:

to win 1 of 3 copies of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget!

{what I wore this week} is green an accessory? edition

don’t forget to enter the big giveaway:

to win 1 of 3 copies of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget!

win a copy of the Money Saving Mom’s Budget :: giveaway

All you need to do to enter is leave me a quick comment answering this question:

You can also earn two bonus entries each day by using the buttons below to share this on Facebook and Twitter! Just leave me a comment for each instance to get another entry!

how to paint furniture upholstery :: a DIY sofa makeover

ebook giveaway winner

don’t forget:

BH readers can get a copy this week for just $4.99! Just enter the code Clean2012 at checkout!

battling the discontentment/dieting cycle: you’re not alone

thrifty thursday :: creative & frugal gift ideas

{what i wore this week} leather, stripes, & eBay edition

goals update + plans for this week {jan 9-15}

fashion planning in the new year

seeing acts 29

taco soup :: recipe + pics {food on friday}

or

sweet haven grace

Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule + a giveaway

Want to win a copy of Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule? Simply leave me a comment below with the answer to this question:

Are you a cleaner by nature, or is cleaning a habit you are learning?

{what I wore this week} christmas vacation edition

How about you? Did you find any ways to stretch your Christmas money with sales/clearance deals {or Goodwill specials!} last week? :)

For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

follow {bh}
:: subscribe by email ::

:: follow by rss feed ::
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